Fellow blogger Laurence D’Orsay stopped by my blog and “liked” my Strong vs Weak Word series. I decided to hop over to his blog to learn more about this wise and astute genius. (Note: blatant use of a tautology here). Since Larry likes me, maybe I would like him too.
I read this on his blog.
“Make your novel readable. Make it easy to read, pleasant to read. This doesn’t mean flowery passages, ambitious flights of pyrotechnic verbiage; it means strong, simple, natural sentences.”
~ Laurence D’Orsay
No wonder he liked me! We are kindred spirits.
Just kidding. The guy has been dead for 65 years. It is unlikely he had a blog. However, he wrote books on the craft of writing, how to get published, several short stories, and one novel. He was also a Los Angeles-based literary agent and critic.
Laurence the author’s brother ~ Lawrence the actor. Sorry, only photo of the D’Orsay family I could find.
The above quote was written in l929. Strong sentences were good then. Strong sentences are good now. Mr. D’Orsay said so. Me too.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. See you after the holiday.
Robin Coyle 
If he was so focused on easy readability, he wouldn’t have that distracting apostrophe in his last name. How about we just call him Larry Darcy?
Ha! Excellent point. He got all fancy-dancy on us with the apostrophe-d name.
I love short sentences. A lot. (see what I did there)
Sometimes I think I need to expand my thoughts…but then I end up going back and deleting. Or I add more periods. It packs more of a punch, especially with humour.
Tweet from Edison: “I just had a lightbulb moment.”
“Lightbulb moment.” Brilliant.
I use short sentences too, but a beta reader complained about my over-use of them. She said it was too choppy. So, I went back and smoothed out some of the road bumps. Not all, mind you, but some. Like you, I like the punchiness.
I understand and for the most part, I agree. However, great words need to be used or we will lose them. I love words. I like how I see them, how I hear them and how they roll around in my mouth. When you write, make your words sing and they need not be simple. All joy and Happy Thanksgiving. HF
Oh I agree! I love words too. I’ve been known to drop everything to look a word up. I think the beautiful word(s) need to be free of clutter-y (is that a word? It should be!) words. I do love how words, when combined together well, sing off the page.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
Sounds like a wise man… Happy Thanksgiving to you too Robin!
Do you celebrate Thanksgiving for old times sake in Norway?
I tried the first few years… but with the kids in school, my husband at work and no parade on TV, it just wasn’t the same 😦
Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without the parade and hour upon hour of football. I’ll have a piece of pumpkin pie in your honor.
Thanks Robin and be sure to put some whipped-cream on top… thats the way I like it 🙂
That is a great quote. Everyone loves your blog, Robin. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. 🙂
My blog and I humbly thank you.
Our Thanksgiving in this coming Thursday. Lots of turkey, pumpkin pie, and more calories than anyone needs.
Sorry a bit early in my use of HAD. Should have known that word would return to haunt me 🙂
Enjoy the pumpkin pie
I’ll have a piece of pumpkin pie in your honor. Or as you like to say, honour.
😀 Thanks
This one goes on the wall — I’ve discovered Post-it glue! Have you made a list of all the rules yet — I try to remember then when I’m writing, but most often I am on a tear to get an idea down, so I notice the was, my big problem, but haven’t fixed them yet.
I’ve heard about Post-It Glue but haven’t tried it. Do you love it?
I haven’t put the series all together yet. But I will! I will let you know when I do it. Happy Thanksgiving Judith.
Oh, and I forgot to say Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is one of the things I miss from when I lived in the States.
I shall consume a slice of turkey and a piece of pumpkin pie for you!
I’m sure he definitely would have approved of your blog Robin!
It would have been great if they’d been able to blog back then wouldn’t it. I can’t remember when I saw it, but someone was saying a while ago how great it would be if Twitter had been available throughout history, and how funny their tweets would be to read now – Noah: “Hmmm, looks like rain.”
That is hysterical. It is a fun idea for a blog post . . . have everyone brainstorm Tweets from history.
Andy Warhol: “Would anyone buy a painting of a soup can?”
Have a great break, Robin:)
I really wish sometimes that the great poets and authors in history were bloggers 😉
And as Vanessa suggested, Tweets from history. I wonder what Mr. Hemingway would Tweet. He wouldn’t have a problem keeping it to 140 characters!
Fun! Good writing doesn’t change in time, nor do readers. (I hope I used my verb tense correctly here!!). Strong is right!
Good writing was good writing from the beginning of time.
I guess it was a very modern way of writing even then!
And here I thought I came up with new advice. Ha! Not so!
Can you imagine if they had blogs 65 years ago? That would have been interesting to observe…
Hemingway’s blog post would have been very terse.
Happy Thanksgiving, Robin!
I hope you got everything cleaned up from your virtual party in time for Thanksgiving!
😉
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Denise!
Yes, the place is finally pulled together. Right in time for an onslaught of family and more calories than anyone needs.
Short, sweet, and to the point. Love your writing, Robin!
Well thank you, Cathy. How nice of you to say.
Excellent advice!
Mr. D’Orsay was a smart cookie!
Sometimes it’s worth stating the obvious 😉
I so agree. Funny that Mr. D’Orsay took the words right out of my mouth.
Enjoyed this! Gotta tell you in a short, simple sentence- this is my official “am caught up” comment. Yours is the last blog I read in order to have been caught up from the wedding. As of Sunday I was 132 posts behind! It feels good to be caught up and yours was perfect as the last one.
Enjoy Thanksgiving, too!
Scott
Wow! I’m impressed you made your way through 132 posts. I am behind by about the same number. Don’t think I can get caught up. There is a turkey to stuff!
I have to agree with D’Orsay on that one. And thanks to you, I know what tautology means. 🙂
You know what? I had to go back and make sure it was a tautology and not a pleonasm. I forgot my own lesson!
Have a great Thanksgiving break!
Thanks! But I am afraid I am back to missing out on some great posts while I am away. Rats.
In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have started Meghan’s new mystery today. Views and comments are really down. Oh well. Live and learn.
I went to the grocery store to do my Thanksgiving shopping. The place was jumping. The holidays are officially upon us. I suspect we will all have low views and comments until after the New Year. I’m off to check out your post. I don’t want to miss it!
Whoa. Great advice. Cool guy. Thanks for shoving him back onto the stage (must read more about him)
I couldn’t find out much about the guy. It is funny that even back then, there was a demand for books on how to get published.
I love the word verbiage. I love your message Robin. You keep my brain chugging and churning.
I love the word verbiage too! Sounds old-fashioned and scholarly. I hope you don’t mind the brain chugging and churning. It could get annoying fast.
laughing.. I need the chugging and churning Robin. Alot..